After Europe held off an amazing comeback from the USA to triumph 15-13 and retain the Ryder Cup, we bring you some of our favourite images from three days of excitement at Bethpage
Continue reading...Ryder Cup 2025: Guardian writers select their standout moments
From Shane Lowry’s victory jig to the emergence of a new US star, our team’s picks from an electrifying weekend
Player of the tournament Viktor Hovland. Well, that was a significant half-point on day three … No, seriously, the award belongs to Tommy Fleetwood. Singles defeat should not mask his overall performance. Surely a major winner in waiting.
Continue reading...Rory McIlroy condemns Ryder Cup abuse after his wife was hit by a beer – video
Rory McIlroy spoke out against the abuse he received during Europe's 15-13 Ryder Cup win. In a post-match press conference, McIlroy said: 'I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf.' He added: 'I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.' The Masters champion also confirmed that his wife, Erica, was hit by a beer that was thrown during Saturday afternoon’s play.
Continue reading...Ryder Cup 2025: Europe win after epic singles finale – as it happened
Team USA threatened to complete a record-breaking comeback but Ludvig Åberg, Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton hauled Europe over the line
… and as for the match itself, Donald adds: “Zero complacency … we know how strong these guys are … they’re very dangerous at singles … the crowd will be behind them … we have to take care of our own matches and try to win the session.”
Luke Donald reports on Viktor Hovland’s injury. “He started stiffening up yesterday morning … tried to go out yesterday afternoon … it got worse and worse … went to get an MRI last night … was really stiff this morning … tried to go through his warm-up but just couldn’t play … he’s devastated … gutted … he wants to go out there and represent Team Europe … it’s very unfortunate.”
Continue reading...Sports quiz of the week: Ryder Cup, Rugby World Cup final and a rebrand
Have you been following the big stories in football, rugby union, golf, athletics, cricket and the NFL?
Continue reading...‘I’m starting to get jealous’: Shane Lowry on McIlroy, ambition and the Ryder Cup
Irishman does not fear the New York crowd and wants to avenge heavy loss the last time the match was in the US
Rory McIlroy nudged Shane Lowry at a recent European Ryder Cup team gathering as footage of the 2006 football World Cup final was shown. “‘We watched that match together,’” Lowry says McIlroy reminded him. “I was like, ‘What?’ He said, ‘Yeah, European Youths’ Team Championships. Sotogrande.’ From that to sitting at a Ryder Cup dinner, 19 years later is pretty cool.” Next stop, Bethpage.
Lowry has told his close friend that he envies him, in the nicest possible sense. The 38-year-old looked on with smiles, but green eyes, as McIlroy claimed the Masters – completing a career grand slam – and produced heroics to win a second Irish Open this month. “I said to him the other day, I am starting to get really jealous,” says Lowry. “I also said to him that I hope Irish people realise how lucky they are to have Rory at that level, coming back to play the Irish Open every year.
Continue reading...Ryder Cup home crowd could turn on USA team at Bethpage, claims Luke Donald
Europe’s captain refers to payments to US players
‘We all know how high the ticket prices are’
Luke Donald has cranked up the heat on the United States Ryder Cup team by claiming the home crowd at Bethpage from Friday may be more likely to turn on Keegan Bradley and his players because they are being paid to take on Europe. In what is a highly controversial move, Bradley and his 12-man side will each collect $500,000 (£370,000) – $300,000 of which must be directed towards charity, with the rest labelled a stipend – while the European contingent continue to perform at the Ryder Cup for free. Added to the mix is the fact that tickets start at $750 per tournament day.
Much has been made of likely antipathy from the New York audience towards Donald and his players as Europe look to retain the trophy they won in Rome two years ago. However, the Englishman believes USA could find themselves under intense gallery pressure if Europe gain an upper hand. “That could happen,” said Donald. “We all know how high the ticket prices are, and it’s going to be an expensive trip out for a family of four. If the US players are getting paid a stipend, or whatever it is, and they aren’t performing, the New Yorkers could make them know about it.”
Continue reading...Sports quiz of the week: shirts, shocks, stars and a stone-skimming scandal
Have you been following the big stories in football, athletics, golf, cricket, rugby, boxing and stone skimming?
Continue reading...‘The Ryder Cup will be on Concorde’: when Europe won in the USA in 1995
The hosts were clear favourites at Oak Hill 30 years go, but Bernard Gallacher’s team came home with the cup
Winning an away Ryder Cup is “one of the biggest accomplishments in golf,” to quote Rory McIlroy. Neither team has a great away record. USA have only won twice on their travels since Europe joined the event in 1979, their last away victory coming in 1993. Europe’s only win on American soil in the last 20 years came in Medinah, and we all know it took a miracle for that to happen.
Of Europe’s four away wins – in 1987, 1995, 2004 and 2012 – their shock victory at Oak Hill 30 years ago remains a personal favourite. Things were far from rosy for Bernard Gallacher’s team in 1995: the captain was bruised after two defeats; there were complaints about his team selection; one star player was ruled out with an injury; and a few others were out of form.
Continue reading...John Daly claims unwanted slice of golf history with record 19 on single hole
Two-time major winner records highest PGA Tour Champions hole score
US golfer finds water seven times on par-5 12th at Sanford International
John Daly made it into the PGA Tour Champions record book Friday for the wrong reason. The two-time major champion took a 19 on the par-5 12th hole at the Sanford International.
Daly also broke his personal record by one shot, after he took an 18 on the par-5 sixth hole in the 1998 Bay Hill Invitational when he hit 3-wood into the water six straight times.
Continue reading...Sports quiz of the week: goalscorers, gob, gaffes and Geraint Thomas
Have you been following the big stories in football, rugby, boxing, tennis, golf, cycling and athletics?
Continue reading...Rory McIlroy savours home win after thrilling Irish Open playoff victory
World No 2 edges out Lagergren at third extra hole
‘I’m so lucky I get to do this in front of these people’
Rory McIlroy savoured “a pretty cool year” after adding a second Irish Open title to his Masters win. The world No 2 completed the career grand slam with his triumph at Augusta in April, and on Sunday he added to that by winning his home open for the second time with a thrilling playoff victory against Joakim Lagergren.
McIlroy had to eagle the 72nd hole just to take it to a playoff after Lagergren’s own stunning eagle at the 16th. After the first two extra holes were tied in birdie fours, Lagergren found the water hazard third time around to allow McIlroy to win it with two putts.
Continue reading...Sports quiz of the week: movie stars, musicians, runners and US presidents
Have you been following the big stories in football, rugby union, athletics, boxing, golf and rugby league?
Continue reading...Ryder Cup team should copy Djokovic when dealing with American hostility, says McIIroy
Europe’s players should learn from tennis star’s reactions
‘All we can do is control our reaction and our emotions’
Rory McIlroy believes Europe’s Ryder Cup team should follow the grand slam record title-holder Novak Djokovic’s example when it comes to dealing with American hostility in New York this month.
Djokovic, a keen golfer himself, delivered a pep talk to the team before their resounding victory in Rome two years ago, and last week McIlroy was pictured courtside watching the Serb at the US Open just hours after the Northern Irishman finished the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Continue reading...Luke Donald warns US team: don’t expect ‘rinse and repeat’ from Europe at Ryder Cup
11 of 12 players who won in Rome will defend title in US
‘It doesn’t mean we are going to roll out the same pairings’
Luke Donald has warned the US team that it would be an error to anticipate “rinse and repeat” from Europe in the Ryder Cup this month despite confirming 11 of the 12 players who won in Rome two years ago will tee up at Bethpage.
Donald named his six wildcards on Monday, all of whom played in 2023. Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka received the captain’s call. Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Rasmus Højgaard and Tyrrell Hatton qualified automatically.
Continue reading...